This is really cool:
According to BPG Werks, the DTV has a top speed of over 30mph and can scale 40 deg slopes and the military version can be remotely controlled to carry offensive weapons.
This thing reminds me of the Montrose song:
“Most of the energy of political work is devoted to correcting the effects of mismanagement of government”
Milton Friedman
Indirect tax on the domestic consumption of goods and services, except those that are zero-rated (such as food and essential drugs) or are otherwise exempt (such as exports). It is levied at each stage in the chain of production and distribution from raw materials to the final sale based on the value (price) added at each stage. It is not a cost to the producer or the distribution chain members, and whereas its full brunt is borne by the end consumer, it avoids the double taxation (tax on tax) of a direct sales tax. Introduced by the European Economic Community (now the European Union) in the 1970s.
Of course, the VAT will be levied by Washington in addition to, not in lieu of, existing federal taxes.
Via BMI:
According to Gregg, who was at one time Obama’s choice for Secretary of Commerce until he withdrew his name, it’s part of a philosophy that sees the private sector as “under-taxed.”
Their end goal with all this spending is not just short-term medicine for the ailing economy. Instead – to “fundamentally change” the American economy: Institute a value-added tax and implement the European social welfare model.
“They want to fill it with a value added tax,” Gregg continued. “That is the plan. They’re trying to run the government into the ditch so that the options will be so few and so Draconian and so inappropriate that the only choice that would be left would be to go down the European social welfare mode. Remember, every European country has an income tax, a sales tax, which is their VAT tax, and what they see is the United States only has an income tax. So they say, ‘Well, we can obviously take the European model. If we go down the European road of expanding our government dramatically,’ which is what they’re planning to do and what they’ve actually done with the health care bill specifically, ‘Then we can fill that gap without going down the European model of a VAT tax.’”
Another economy crushing idea from the elites in Washington.
As I’ve been making my rounds on the internet visiting my fellow conservative bloggers I have come across many moving September 11th postings. Be sure to check them out:
Dan J. @ Todays World News: Remembering 9/11 Documentaries & Videos – 2001 and 2010
Matt @ CH 2.0: September 11, 2001
Dewey from Detroit: We Will Never Forget. We Will Never Submit
The Current: Video: “Never Forgotten” 9/11 Tribute
WyBlog: Never Forget
The BlogProf: 911 Tribute Video: The Day The Earth Was Soaked With Tears
Jason @ RightMichigan: In Nine Years
The Robot: Have You Forgotten 9-11? – A Video Memorial
Michigan Taxes Too Much: A Good Event On 911
Vicki @ FCBZ: 9/11 Tribute: Rena Sam-Dinnoo, We Still Remember Nine Years Later… We Will Not Forget
Snarky: 9/11 Remembrance — Andrew Alameno — Project 2996
Pundette: Remembering 9/11: Sandy Bradshaw et al
Caffeinated Thoughts: America the Beautiful
8:30 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT:
Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.
The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America — with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government’s emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it’s prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help with local rescue efforts.
Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight, and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business, as well.
The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I’ve directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.
America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.”
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank you. Good night, and God bless America.
END 8:35 P.M. EDT
The Obama Administration has taken steps to increase regulation of America’s coastlines, the Great Lakes and the nations rivers and waterways.
With the introduction of two virtually unnoticed Executive branch edicts, the Administration has consolidated more authority over Americas waterways in the White House. To oversee this new regulatory effort, the Administration has established the National Ocean Council, a new multi-agency bureaucracy chartered to regulate Americas waterways at the federal level through an Executive Order:
The Executive Order established for the first time a comprehensive, integrated National Policy for the stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and Great Lakes, which sets our Nation on a path toward comprehensive planning for the preservation and sustainable uses of these bodies of water.
As pointed out in the Daily Caller, this executive order subjects Americas waterways to, among other regulations, federal zoning laws creating significant long term repercussions:
Unveiled with precious little fanfare on July 19 in the form of an Executive Order, the White House’s Ocean Policy Initiative will subject America’s waterways — oceans, rivers, bays, estuaries, and the Great Lakes — to federal zoning. Under the scheme, these areas would be managed according to the Orwellian-sounding notion of “coastal and marine spatial planning.” As an unnamed administration official told the Los Angeles Times: “This sets the nation on a path of much more comprehensive planning to both conservation and sustainable use of [ocean] resources.”
An elaborate, multi-layered bureaucratic structure would oversee all of this. Nine regional commissions, composed of federal, state, and tribal officials, would decide which commercial and recreational activities are appropriate. Their recommendations, however, would have to be approved by a newly created National Ocean Council, which the White House says will “strengthen ocean governance and coordination.” The council will consist of spatial planners drawn from the likes of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautic and Space Agency (NASA), and the departments of Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services.
Obama has selected his science Czar, John P. Holdren as one of the co-chairs of this new bureaucracy.
John P. Holdren looks on as Obama signs Executive Order
It is important to recall that Holdren is a RADICAL environmentalist and holds some scary and absurd ideas regarding the human race and the environment.
In a related move, Obama has unleashed another bureaucratic layer, in the EPA, to oversee the implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative:
This Action Plan – including the funding and other policy tools that will be used to leverage its outcomes – is intended to realize our goals: that the fish are safe to eat; the water is safe to drink; the beaches and waters are safe for swimming, surfing, boating and recreating; native species and habitats are protected and thriving; no community suffers disproportionately from the impacts of pollution; and the Great Lakes are a healthy place for people and wildlife to live.
“[N]o community suffers disproportionately from the impacts of pollution” is another way of stating the EPA is planning to use its regulatory power to implement Environmental Justice in the Great Lakes region. An example of how this will work is outlined on page 20 of the Action Plan.
Now, not only does the EPA have the power to regulate carbon dioxide, the gas all people exhale, the EPA through the National Ocean Council has the authority to regulate the usage of the Great Lakes, its adjacent waterways and the oceans with John P. Holdren pulling the strings.
A team of soldiers from the Canadian Armed Forces disassemble and reassemble a jeep in less than four minutes.
Over at Treehugger.com they are lamenting the fact that Americans and Canadians like their cars:
This would not be worthy of a TreeHugger post if it was just about a local goon running for mayor in another socialist country. But it is an American trend that we noted in a previous post Are Planners Socialists for Trying to Encourage “Livability”?, it is a pretty common attitude among right-wing pundits. And just look what Republican House Leader John Boehner says: John Boehner: Invest in Roads, not Weatherization and Quote of the Day: Republican House Leader on Bikes and Beautification. This is not a local phenomenon but a continent-wide backlash.
A car is not about individualism and freedom, it is in fact the opposite. It locks you into a particular (and expensive) way of living; it is a Corinthian leather lined trap. And it looks like come this October in Toronto it is going to run us down. In November it might have a wider impact.
Here you go tree huggers… You want bicycles and “green” cars:
Here is a bicycle piloted by the second worst President in American history:
And now a “green” car, set to a great tune…
I like this “green” car as well:
A "green" Viper
Think about it, the Chinese Government is heavily subsidizing windmills and solar panels to sell them in the United States. The United States Government is, in turn, further subsidizing the windmills and solar panels, because they are still too expensive (based on the amount of energy they create). And, even with all the subsidies,windmills and solar panels will never pay for themselves.
Via the NYT:
Trade lawyers in Washington have been saying for months that China’s export subsidies for clean energy were so extensive that they expected a trade case to be filed sooner or later. But multinational companies and trade associations in the clean energy business, as in many other industries, have been wary of doing so, fearing Chinese officials’ reputation for retaliating against joint ventures in their country and potentially denying market access to any company that takes sides against China.
With clean energy a stated priority of the Obama administration, as a jobs generator and for environmental reasons, the union says it hopes to gain support for its case by injecting the trade issue into the autumn Congressional campaigns.
Even though ‘green energy’ is a proven economic loser, it seems facts will not stand in the way of politicians beating the ‘green energy future’ and ‘green collar’ jobs drum. Even Michigan’s Republican candidate for Governor, Rick Snyder, has picked up the Jennifer Granholm (worst Governor in America) Green energy mantle:
As a member of the board of trustees of the Michigan Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, Rick has gained great insight into the issues facing Michigan and the role that the state should play in the Great Lakes Region. As an entrepreneur, Rick understands how to quickly and efficiently transfer technology from the classroom to the marketplace, which will help protect Michigan’s environment and create “green collar” jobs.
Wonderful.
The future of energy in Michigan
At the top of Democrat Mark Schauer’s re-election campaign web site, he has the slogan
“Turning Michigan around, one job at a time”
Based on his voting record, I think voters need to interpret his campaign slogan literally.
Even though it’s proven time and again that large spending bills are job and economy killers, Democrats can count on a “yes” vote from Mark Schauer.
Democrats Jim Blanchard and Mark Schauer
From failed spending bills such as “The Stimulus” to crushing regulations like “Cap and Trade” and the massive (and expensive) new entitlement program “Health Care” Mark Schauer sees each and every bill that come up for a vote as a jobs bill. For example, Schauer voted for Obama’s Stimulus Bill because it would create jobs:
“At a time when our county is facing the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, this bill will create 109,000 much-needed Michigan jobs and at least 7,900 jobs right here in the 7th district,” said Schauer. “While some detractors will find things to criticize about this bill, we can’t afford to miss the forest for the trees. This recovery package is the jumpstart we need to get our economy moving again and put people back to work. Doing nothing is not an option.”
Mark Schauer voted for ObamaCare because it will cut the deficit and…. Create jobs:
The jobs quote is at the 1:29 mark.
Continuing the every bill is a jobs bill idea, Mark Schauer voted for Cap and Trade because it will save the planet and…. Create jobs:
The bill will create a system of clean energy incentives that will spur the development of new sources of energy while confronting the threat of carbon pollution. These incentives will lead to innovations that will, in turn, create millions of good, new jobs and ensure America will continue to lead in the 21st century global economy. And they will allow us to crack down on polluters while reducing deadly emissions that contaminate the water we drink and pollute the air we breathe.
The deadly emission Mark Schauer is grandstanding about is carbon dioxide, the gas that all living humans exhale.
Speaking of grandstanding, when the most important job of all, Mark Schauers’ Congressional seat, is on the line (due to his sagging poll numbers) Mark is not above a little grandstanding:
Rep. Mark Schauer, a Michigan Democrat, said he was convinced the massive leak began the night of July 25, although the Canadian company insists it didn’t confirm the spill was under way until about 11:30 a.m. the next morning.
Schauer also said Enbridge began laying boom material to contain the oil then but took two more hours to file a report with the National Response Center. Federal rules require pipeline operators to report releases of more than 5 gallons of hazardous liquids “at the earliest practicable moment” following their discovery.
It seems Mark was trying to leverage a disaster to score a few cheap political points.
If you live in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, you can show your appreciation for all the jobs that Mark Schauer has voted to create by voting for Tim Walberg, Republican for Congress.
Vote for Tim Walberg
TopTenz.net has a list of the best late night TV informericals that is pretty good. I’m surprised, however, the Ginsu knife didn’t make it:
Polling Pointing to Democrat Debacle in November: Even CNN Showing Doom for Democrats:
The CNN report goes on to minimize the “referendum on Obama” that is clearly part of this coming election. However, after almost two years in office, and much of that with supermajorities in both houses, they passed a Porkulus that accomplished nothing. They took over two car companies, and created banking regulations that increased costs for us. They oversaw the loss of millions of jobs. Did I mention the massive fail that is ObamaCare? If folks aren’t upset about all of that (and more), they are zombies.
Well said (per usual) By Matt @ CH 2.0
WCW: Close Them All, I’d Like To Close Them All
Gator Podcast: Exposing media bias
Arizona: In the Shadow of King George
Who has been talking about Obama “like a dog”?
The strain of failure is beginning to take its toll on our president.
If you are from Detroit, and a certain age, you will remember The Beat, Doug Podell & The Look:
The Robot: Never Gonna Stand For This
Michigan Tea Party: Hillsdale Tea Party Re-Scheduled
From the Classroom to the Oval Office: Educated, Arrogant and Ignorant